Common Name: CYANOGEN BROMIDE CAS Number: 506-68-3 RTK Substance number: 2302 DOT Number: UN 1889 Date: April 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY * Cyanogen Bromide can affect you when breathed in and * Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely by passing through your skin. evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area * Contact can irritate the skin and eyes. air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results * Breathing Cyanogen Bromide can irritate the nose and from your employer. You have a legal right to this throat. information under OSHA 1910.1020. * Breathing Cyanogen Bromide may irritate the lungs * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health causing coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational exposures can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you. (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency, with severe shortness of breath. WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS * High exposure to Cyanogen Bromide can cause fatal OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit Cyanide poisoning with flushing of the face, chest (PEL) is 5 mg/m3 (as Cyanides) averaged over tightness, headache, nausea, vomiting, weakness, an 8-hour workshift. confusion, dizziness, and trouble sleeping. High levels may cause convulsions and death. * The above exposure limit is for air levels only. When skin contact also occurs, you may be overexposed, even though IDENTIFICATION air levels are less than the limit listed above. Cyanogen Bromide is a white crystalline (sand-like) solid with a strong odor. It is used to make other chemicals, in WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE fumigating and rat exterminating, and as a reagent in gold * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust extraction processes. ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be REASON FOR CITATION worn. * Cyanogen Bromide is on the Hazardous Substance List * Wear protective work clothing. because it is regulated by OSHA and cited by DOT, DEP, * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Cyanogen IRIS, NFPA and EPA. Bromide and at the end of the workshift. * Definitions are provided on page 5. * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In addition, as part of an ongoing education and training HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING effort, communicate all information on the health and EXPOSED safety hazards of Cyanogen Bromide to potentially The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers exposed workers. to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public employers to provide their employees with information and training concerning chemical hazards and controls. The federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 1910.1200, requires private employers to provide similar training and information to their employees. CYANOGEN BROMIDE page 2 of 6 This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and potential and most severe health hazards that may result from present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance damage already done are not a substitute for controlling and other factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the exposure. potential effects described below. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION Mixed Exposures Acute Health Effects * Because smoking can cause heart disease, as well as lung The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur cancer, emphysema, and other respiratory problems, it may immediately or shortly after exposure to Cyanogen Bromide: worsen respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure. Even if you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will * Contact can irritate the skin and eyes. reduce your risk of developing health problems. * Breathing Cyanogen Bromide can irritate the nose and throat. WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES * Breathing Cyanogen Bromide may irritate the lungs causing coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous exposures can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency, with severe effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to shortness of breath. enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at * High exposure to Cyanogen Bromide can cause fatal the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also Cyanide poisoning with flushing of the face, chest reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is tightness, headache, nausea, vomiting, weakness, less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is confusion, dizziness, and trouble sleeping. High levels may sometimes necessary. cause convulsions and death. In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: Chronic Health Effects (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether some time after exposure to Cyanogen Bromide and can last harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls for months or years: should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. Cancer Hazard * According to the information presently available to the New In addition, the following control is recommended: Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Cyanogen Bromide has not been tested for its ability to * Where possible, automatically transfer Cyanogen Bromide cause cancer in animals. from drums or other storage containers to process containers. Reproductive Hazard * According to the information presently available to the New Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, exposures. The following work practices are recommended: Cyanogen Bromide has not been tested for its ability to affect reproduction. * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Cyanogen Bromide should change into clean clothing Other Long-Term Effects promptly. * Cyanogen Bromide can irritate the lungs. Repeated * Do not take contaminated work clothes home. Family exposure may cause bronchitis to develop with cough, members could be exposed. phlegm, and/or shortness of breath. * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by individuals who have been informed of the hazards of MEDICAL exposure to Cyanogen Bromide. * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate work area for emergency use. Medical Testing * If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the shower facilities should be provided. following are recommended: * On skin contact with Cyanogen Bromide, immediately wash or shower to remove the chemical. At the end of the * Chest x-ray and lung function tests. workshift, wash any areas of the body that may have contacted Cyanogen Bromide, whether or not known skin contact has occurred. * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Cyanogen Bromide is handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be CYANOGEN BROMIDE page 3 of 6 swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking, HANDLING AND STORAGE smoking, or using the toilet. * Use a vacuum or a wet method to reduce dust during clean- * Prior to working with Cyanogen Bromide you should be up. DO NOT DRY SWEEP. trained on its proper handling and storage. * Cyanogen Bromide may react with WATER or STRONG PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT ACIDS (such as HYDROCHLORIC, SULFURIC and NITRIC) to release toxic, corrosive, flammable or WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN explosive gases. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for * Cyanogen Bromide is not compatible with OXIDIZING some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs AGENTS (such as PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES, done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES, NITRATES, controls are being installed), personal protective equipment CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE) and METALS. may be appropriate. * Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area away from HEAT, AIR, LIGHT and MOISTURE. OSHA 1910.132 requires employers to determine the appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and to train employees on how and when to use protective QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS equipment. Q: If I have acute health effects, will I later get chronic The following recommendations are only guidelines and may health effects? not apply to every situation. A: Not always. Most chronic (long-term) effects result from repeated exposures to a chemical. Clothing * Avoid skin contact with Cyanogen Bromide. Wear Q: Can I get long-term effects without ever having short- protective gloves and clothing. Safety equipment term effects? suppliers/manufacturers can provide recommendations on A: Yes, because long-term effects can occur from repeated the most protective glove/clothing material for your exposures to a chemical at levels not high enough to make operation. you immediately sick. * All protective clothing (suits, gloves,